Ladies and gentlemen, a wild cart ride awaits you. With the thrill of a coaster and the exceptionalism of a state-of-the-art dark ride experience, prepare for a wild wizarding adventure as you seek to open an account and tour the vaults on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. This adventure takes place in Gringotts Wizarding Bank located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.
The Story
Due to recent breakouts from the wizarding prison Azkaban and turbulent times at the Ministry of Magic, goblins, witches, and wizards everywhere are asking themselves one simple question: “Who can I trust?”
Of course, this feeling of distrust doesn’t apply to Gringotts Wizarding Bank, as some would consider the safest place in the world for anything you want to keep safe. But as soon as you walk into the bank to open an account and tour the vaults, you find yourself entrenched in the webs of everything taking place — the wariness in the air, the suspicions, the general mood that these are very dark times. For you, this tour just might be a little more than you had set out for as you soon realize your visit comes with much more excitement than merely opening an account — who knows, you might run into Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley!
The Queue
Prepare to be dazzled as you marvel at the grandeur of the Gringotts’ lobby, the place where your journey begins. Here you’ll witness the bank goblins hard at work in their various banking activities. Don’t take their attentiveness to their duties as evidence that they aren’t keeping an eye on you, however, as they are very protective of the bank’s assets and will quickly notice anyone attempting to breach the bank’s security defenses.
Fixated at the top of the bank lobby are four magnificent chandeliers that are truly something to take in, so make sure you take a moment to absorb every stunning detail. Further in the queue, you make your way down the meticulously-kept bank corridors, lined with portraits and plaques of the various goblins who maintain the bank.
You eventually arrive in Bill Weasley’s office where Blordak welcomes you on your tour beneath the bank to see the vaults. Searching for the keys, Blordak is bombarded with Weasleys’ Wildfire Wiz-bangs (fireworks, for us Muggle folks). After some chatting between Bill and Blordak, they decide to get on with the tour, where you will need to go nine subterranean miles beneath the bank. As you take the lift underground, be sure to look up to spot the rather imposing operators.
Once underground, you pick up a pair of safety goggles and make your way to the cart station — the beginning of your wild cart odyssey.
Learn more about the incredible queue details in this blog.
The Ride
Once seated on the cart you begin an adventurous descent into the deepest bowels of Gringotts. Be sure to pay close attention to the dialogue taking place in the first scene as you come to understand how you will become part of the storyline. One thing is for certain: as your purpose becomes more clear, you will immediately find yourself suspended in uncertain anticipation for what is about to come next.
Once your cart gains speed, you will be barreling through the trenches of the labyrinth that sits beneath the bank. As your cart wildly turns through the cavernous chambers, you are saved — for a moment at least — as Bill Weasley casts the slowing charm Arresto Momentum, bringing your cart’s velocity to a halt. Then, a second cart appears carrying none other than Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
Immediately, heavy thumping permeates the air as bank security trolls approach this unwelcome gathering. After a close encounter, your cart then regains momentum and speeds away, escaping the grasps of these creatures… or so it seems. Don’t celebrate your escape just yet — you soon learn the trolls have not finished their siege of your cart. As they incessantly continue their attack, one of them stumbles, falling down the long careen and dragging your cart with him. As you plummet and brace for impact in the cavern below, Bill comes to your rescue again.
He then officially welcomes you to Gringotts and, with a hint of sarcasm, explains how perfectly safe it is. Before he can finish his greeting, Harry and Hermione show up and express the urgency of getting out of there. You then quickly venture deeper through the underground chambers as you attempt to make your great escape from Gringotts.
Just as you might have guessed, something goes awry… but we’ll let you experience that for yourselves. All we can say is getting into Gringotts is hard… but getting out is harder.
Ride Details
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a multi-dimensional, multi-sensory attraction that has revolutionized theme park entertainment since it opened in 2014.
The ride is a next-generation thrill ride that seamlessly integrates a compilation of the most innovative technology ever created, such as 360-degree themed sets, 4K digital high-definition animation, state-of-the-art 3D projection systems, and live special effects.
Beyond the ride, the queue offers a complete experience with interactive components and a magnificent bank lobby where four chandeliers tower above the magic, containing a combined total of 62,000 crystals.
- Riders need to be a minimum of 42” (107 cm) to experience the attraction. Those under 48” (122 cm) must have a supervising companion at all times.
- If a member of the party does not meet the minimum height requirement, Child Swap is available. You can learn more about Child Swap here.
- Guests who purchased Universal Express are able to utilize this benefit at Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. If you are staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Royal Pacific Resort, you also have Universal Express access as one of your hotel benefits. And for those who want to go through the queue solo, a separate Single Rider queue is also available.
Store
If you were wanting to take home your own pandemonium when Weasleys’ Wildfire Wiz-bangs went off in Bill Weasley’s office, fear not because there are a collection of shopping options in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley offering mementos that complete any visit to the bank vaults.
Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes offers a colorful cornucopia of novelty items, magical jokes, and toys. Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment is another spot that cannot be missed as it contains a variety of wizarding wares and supplies that will complement your visit to Gringotts.
Meet and Greet
While you are out shopping for the best wizarding equipment to relish in your adventurous experience at Gringotts, make sure you visit the Gringotts Money Exchange. It is so much more than a store because it really offers a continuation of the magic from the bank lobby in the ride queue.
At the Gringotts Money Exchange, you will get a chance to interact with a Gringotts bank goblin and exchange muggle money (U.S. currency) for Gringotts Bank Notes. The great thing about the banknotes is that they can be used for purchases within both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade (and at select locations throughout Universal Orlando Resort).
Gringotts Bank Notes really are the perfect way to remember your adventure exploring the vaults and joining in on the excitement of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
What excitement are you looking forward to when you visit Gringotts Wizarding Bank to open an account? Let us know in the comments below!